What is kinesiology tape?
Kinesio tape is an elastic, breathable and waterproof tape which is made of cotton fabric and has an acrylic-based adhesive layer on the underside. The tape is up to 100% stretchable in the longitudinal direction and can therefore adapt excellently to everyday movements. The Kinesio tape can also be worn on the skin for several days.
Kinesio tape has its origins in Japan, where it was developed in the 1970s for the treatment of sports injuries. At that time the tape was only available in the skin-colored version. It only made its way into Europe much later; the first tapes appeared at the 2008 Olympic Games. Another big advertising moment for the ever-growing market in Europe was thanks to the Italian footballer Mario Balotelli, who played at the 2012 European Championships took off his jersey while celebrating the goal and wore the blue stripes of tape on his back.
Tape is now available in every color imaginable. However, the classic colors are still skin color, black, blue and pink. However, regardless of their color, the tapes are identical in terms of their texture and adhesive strength. A different effect of the colors has not been scientifically proven, so anything is possible when it comes to the color design of the taping. Kinesio tape can be used for a wide variety of problems and diagnoses. For example, they can reduce the tone in the event of muscle tension, improve the removal of accumulated fluids in the event of swelling and bruising, have a positive effect on pain or can be used to mobilize scars, to name just a few of the possible areas of application. The tape supports the body's natural healing process without restricting the range of motion.
The tape is often used to support sports in order to achieve optimal performance. It should be noted, however, that a lack of regeneration times or a sufficient warm-up cannot be replaced by tape. It is purely for support.
More and more studies are showing that early mobilization after injuries often has a positive influence on regeneration; tape can be a useful addition here.
The application of a tape varies depending on the desired goal. In a so-called muscle technique, the muscle to be taped is brought into a pre-stretched position and the tape is applied along the muscle without pulling. In a correction technique, the base of the tape is stuck to the point to be corrected and you apply tension to the tape and stick it underneath it in the direction to be corrected. Another technique is used to reduce pain; here the tape is applied in a star shape. First, the tape is pre-stretched in the middle and applied to the pain point. The surrounding tissue is pulled towards the pain point and the pressure is relieved in this area. As you can see, there are almost no limits to sticking Kinesio tape.
There are still a few things to keep in mind, the skin should be clean and dry. There must be no injuries, otherwise an infection could occur. If you have a lot of body hair, the tape may not adhere well to the skin and may come off prematurely, and your hair will tug, which is very unpleasant. If there is an intolerance to the adhesive, the tape should not be used. If the skin itches or swells under the tape while wearing the tape, the tape should be removed immediately as otherwise skin irritation may occur.
